23-04-2025
Among Gujarat's dead, father-son duo who went to Kashmir for Ram Katha, SBI manager on family holiday
On April 19, Bhavnagar resident Yatish Sudhir Parmar's seven-member family left for Srinagar to attend a Ram Katha by spiritual leader Morari Bapu. The group was set to return to Gujarat in a few days but the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday brought their trip to the Valley to a tragic end as Yatish and his 17-year-old son Smit were among the 26 people killed in the incident.
Around 9pm on Wednesday night, the mortal remains of the two deceased arrived at Ahmedabad Airport from where they were taken to Bhavnagar by road in two ambulances. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, too, reached Bhavnagar Wednesday night.
Yatish and Smit are among the three tourists from the state who were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, the Gujarat State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) confirmed on Wednesday.
While Yatish, 45, a resident of Waghawadi Road in Bhavnagar city, owned a salon and a restaurant, Smit was a Class 11 student at Vidyadhish School.
The Parmars – Yatish, his wife and son – hail from Palitana and have been staying in Bhavnagar for 20 years. They had gone to Jammu and Kashmir to attend Morari Bapu's Katha at Sher-i Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar from April 19 to 27. The Parmars, along with four family members from his wife's side, left for Srinagar on April 19.
'They went to Pahalgam on Tuesday on an excursion, to capture some good photo memories. The elder son, who works in a laboratory in Bhavnagar, did not accompany them due to his job. Yatish's wife is on her way back to Gujarat. The entire family is in shock at the moment and waiting for everyone to be back home safe,' Bharat, Yatish's cousin, told The Indian Express.
Following the attack, Morari Bapu, who announced Rs 5 lakh to the families of deceased from Gujarat, has postponed his katha. 'Ram Katha 955, which is held in Srinagar, has been postponed after the 5th day until further notice due to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir. Those who have attended the katha are safe and well and the reason for postponing is for everyone's safety and well being. The remaining four days of the Katha will resume when possible,' the announcement issued by Bapu's Shree Chitrakutdham Trust Wednesday stated.
The third deceased from Gujarat is Shailesh Himmat Kalthiya from Surat. Kalthiya, who worked with the State Bank of India in Mumbai, was on a holiday with his wife and children when the attack took place.
Two tourists from the state were injured in the attack. While Dabhi Vinodbhai, who sustained a firearm injury, is currently admitted at a Pahalgam hospital, Vinubhai Parmar, who suffered a splinter injury to his right upper arm, has been referred to Government Medical College, Anantnag.
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said arrangements were being made by the state government to bring the bodies of the three deceased back to Gujarat.
He further said, 'I am sure the government will find out the cowards who opened fire at the tourists based on their religion. All tourists who have lost their lives, their families (will) get justice for sure.'
According to sources, around 20-25 tourists from Gujarat, who had gone to Pahalgam for sightseeing, are returning to the state from Jammu and Kashmir.
